At night, Wan Yunting stayed alone in a mountain cabin. He made himself a simple meal in the small kitchen, then sat by the cabin door. A fire burned in the brazier, heating a pot of water that gurgled and steamed…
He also brought out Senior Nun Jinyu’s small tea tray and brewed himself a cup of tea. Then, sitting on a stool, he leaned against the wooden wall of the cabin, gazing at the hazy distance, seemingly waiting for something as he admired the light snow falling that night…!
About half an hour later, a flashlight beam cut through the darkness from a small path leading from Kunshan Village.
Wan Yunting, who was sipping hot tea by the door, narrowed his sharp eyes. The Junzi Sword lay beside him!
Soon, several figures appeared at the small entrance to the cabin yard. Leading them was Zhong Yulong, the Sect Leader of Wudang, along with his eldest disciple Xian Yun, third disciple Xu Yuxin, sixth disciple Yang Xuan, and Elder Xuguzi. There was also a middle-aged Taoist priest whose face was unfamiliar; Wan Yunting didn't know his affiliation with Wudang.
However, the aura circulating around this person indicated he was a strong practitioner!
“Heh heh, Sect Leader Zhong, you’ve come a long way. Come in for a cup of hot tea!”
Wan Yunting remained leaning against the wooden wall. He picked up the teapot with his right hand and slowly poured a cup of hot tea into an empty cup, smiling as he spoke.
Zhong Yulong, wearing a dark blue cloak over his white Taoist robe, had his white hair tied up in a topknot. Though short in stature, the powerful aura he exuded made one hesitant to approach.
Especially his sharp old eyes, which were fixed on Wan Yunting sitting by the cabin door. After a few moments of hesitation, Zhong Yulong, accompanied by Xian Yun and his disciples, as well as Elder Xuguzi and his junior brother Danyangzi, pushed open the small wooden door and entered the yard.
Zhong Yulong raised his hand, signaling Xian Yun, Xuguzi, and the others to stay in the yard, while he approached Wan Yunting alone…
“Sect Leader Zhong, please have a seat.”
Wan Yunting maintained his seated posture, gestured to a long stool placed in front of him, and smiled, inviting Zhong Yulong to sit.
Zhong Yulong’s aged face was solemn, and he spoke without a smile, “It seems Sect Leader Wan anticipated my visit tonight!”
“Heh heh, Sect Leader Zhong, please have some tea…!”
Wan Yunting said with a smile. He subtly waved his right hand towards the cup of tea on the tea tray. An invisible surge of energy sent the hot tea floating through the air, landing steadily towards Zhong Yulong…
This display caused Zhong Yulong’s old eyes to widen in surprise. He raised his hand and caught the flying tea cup. Not a single drop of tea spilled.
He couldn’t help but look at Wan Yunting with astonishment and said, “It’s been some time, Sect Leader Wan, your martial arts have advanced significantly. You truly are a rare martial arts prodigy, possessing such profound internal energy at such a young age. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”
“Heh heh…”
Wan Yunting calmly sipped his own tea and chuckled, “Sect Leader Zhong, you flatter me. What am I, Wan Yunting, compared to your Wudang Sect?”
His words caused Xian Yun, Xu Yuxin, Xuguzi, and Danyangzi, who were standing in the yard, to raise their eyebrows, their eyes fixed on Wan Yunting, ready to strike at any moment!
“Sect Leader Wan is too modest.”
Zhong Yulong said with a blank expression, “Your reputation precedes you, Sect Leader Wan, and you are now a major star in the country. Your every word and action can influence all the major sects. How can our Wudang Sect compare to you?”
Wan Yunting, with narrowed eyes, looked directly at Zhong Yulong and chuckled with a slight upturn of his lips, “Sect Leader Zhong, since you hold me in such high regard, why have you come to find me tonight?”
Zhong Yulong remained solemn, his aged face always maintaining a peaceful expression, but his heart was far from it. He spoke calmly, “Sect Leader Wan, you crippled my disciples Qi Xiu and Qin Yuan. Do you not intend to give me an explanation for this matter?”
Wan Yunting laughed, “Why should I give you an explanation?”
“Back at the Emei Sect, I clearly told you that in exchange for the Snow Mountain Sect’s martial arts manual, you would no longer seek out Zhou Ruoxi!”
“Yet now, you are looking for her behind my back. Did you not violate the agreement first?”
This statement caused Zhong Yulong to fall silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, “After all, she is the biological daughter of Yin Baisu, the Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult…”
“Heh heh, I think you’re after the whereabouts of the Demonic Pool of the Demonic Cult, aren’t you?”
Wan Yunting immediately exposed his true intentions, stating seriously, “Sect Leader Zhong, now that we are in this situation, there’s no need for pretense. Let’s speak frankly. What’s the point of being coy?”
Zhong Yulong pondered for a few more seconds and then nodded, “Since you say so, I will be direct. Tell me the whereabouts of the Demonic Cult’s Demonic Pool!”
Wan Yunting burst out laughing, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at Zhong Yulong, chuckling, “Sect Leader Zhong, do the other sects know that your Wudang Sect has come to find me tonight?”
Zhong Yulong shook his head slightly. Wan Yunting laughed, “So, is your Wudang Sect planning to monopolize the Demonic Pool?”
Zhong Yulong stared at him with sharp old eyes and said, “As long as you tell me the whereabouts of the Demonic Pool, I will naturally gather the sect leaders of all the major sects to discuss finding the Demonic Pool, destroying it, and completely eradicating the roots of the Demonic Cult, ensuring that no remnants of the Demonic Cult ever resurface in the martial world!”
“Haha…”
Wan Yunting burst into laughter, shaking his head and saying, “Sect Leader Zhong, you speak so beautifully. Destroying the Demonic Pool? I think your Wudang Sect clearly wants to seize the Demonic Pool for yourselves, to cultivate demonic arts, don’t you?”
“Wan Yunting, what nonsense are you talking about?” Yang Xuan, standing in the yard, couldn’t help but retort angrily.
But Wan Yunting completely ignored him. He looked at the expressionless Zhong Yulong and said with a smile, “Legend has it that cultivating in the Demonic Pool can grant one supreme divine power, reaching the legendary realm of invulnerability. Sect Leader Zhong, you came for this, didn’t you?”
Zhong Yulong sighed, “Sect Leader Wan, I fear you truly misunderstand me.”
“Although I, Zhong Yulong, am dedicated to the Tao and pursue the highest realm of martial arts, I would never use unorthodox means to enhance my cultivation!”
“The reason I am asking you about the whereabouts of the Demonic Cult’s Demonic Pool is because I truly wish to act on behalf of heaven, to eradicate the foundation of the Demonic Cult, and prevent them from ever rising again…”
“Enough, spare me these hypocritical, righteous-sounding words!”
Wan Yunting waved his hand and said, “I don’t care about your intentions, but let me tell you, the former Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult never told me the whereabouts of their Demonic Pool. She only wanted me to treat her daughter, Zhou Ruoxi, well in the future.”
At this moment, Xian Yun spoke up, smiling, “Since Sect Leader Wan doesn’t know, then Zhou Ruoxi must know!”
As soon as these words were uttered, Wan Yunting’s gaze instantly locked onto Xian Yun. A chill spread through his heart, and he said in a deep voice, “Senior Brother Xian, I’ve always been curious about the extent of your martial arts. How about we spar a few moves?”
Xian Yun slightly shook his head and smiled, “I apologize, Sect Leader Wan, but my aptitude is mediocre. I’m not cut out for martial arts. I usually just help my master manage the sect’s affairs, so… uh!”
Suddenly, his voice cut off abruptly…
“Sect Leader Wan, you…!”
Zhong Yulong’s old eyes widened instantly, and he quickly rose to stop him…
But he was a step too late. In an instant, Wan Yunting had already sprung up and lunged forward, striking Xian Yun with a palm. His speed was so great that Zhong Yulong couldn’t even react…
However, Danyangzi, who had been standing beside Xian Yun, reacted instantly. He moved to block in front of Xian Yun and raised his hand to receive Wan Yunting’s palm strike…
*Pa!*
Their palms met. Danyangzi’s expression changed drastically as he felt a terrifying internal force from Wan Yunting’s palm. His entire right arm began to deform, and the sound of cracking bones could be heard…
*Bang…!*
The next second, Danyangzi and Xian Yun were sent flying backward, collapsing about five or six meters away…
“Senior Disciple Brother…”
“Danyangzi…”
Xu Yuxin, Yang Xuan, and Xuguzi cried out in alarm and rushed over…
“Wan Yunting, you’ve gone too far!”
Now Zhong Yulong was finally enraged. He raised his hand and struck at Wan Yunting…
*Pa!*
Wan Yunting, having anticipated this, turned and struck Zhong Yulong’s palm with his fist. An invisible wave of energy exploded, sending them both flying backward, creating a ten-meter gap between them…
*Curious internal energy. Could this kid have reached the Gouyu Realm of martial arts?*
Zhong Yulong looked up, his gaze filled with surprise as he watched Wan Yunting. He hadn’t expected him to be able to block his palm strike without showing any signs of injury.
“Heh heh, as expected of the Sect Leader of Wudang. Your power is indeed formidable.”
Wan Yunting shook his left hand. He had exchanged a blow with Zhong Yulong, which had numbed his entire arm, but he was otherwise unharmed.
Zhong Yulong frowned, knowing Wan Yunting’s martial arts were formidable, but he hadn’t expected them to exceed his own expectations.
This kid is truly not simple!